Course description
Course Description:Avionic Systems Design option aims to provide an understanding of avionic systems design, analysis, development, test and airframe integration. This includes a detailed look at flight control, navigation, and communications systems as well as cockpit design and layout. We have been at the forefront of postgraduate education in aerospace engineering since 1946. Aerospace Vehicle Design at Cranfield University was one of the original foundation courses of the College of Aeronautics. Graduates of this course are eligible to join the Cranfield College of Aeronautics Alumni Association (CCAAA), an active community which hold a number of networking and social events throughout the year.Start Months:March or OctoberFull Time/ Part Time:Full Time School:School of Aerospace, Transport and Manufacturing Theme:AerospaceEntry Requirements:A first or second class UK Honours degree (or equivalent) ideally in a related subject. Other recognised professional qualifications or several years relevant industrial experience may be accepted as equivalent; subject to approval by the Course Director. For further and specific information please visit the course page. English Language:If you are an international student you will need to provide evidence that you have achieved a satisfactory test result in an English qualification. The minimum standard expected from a number of accepted courses are as follows: IELTS - 6.5 TOEFL - 92 Pearson PTE Academic - 65 Cambridge English Scale - 180 Cambridge English: Advanced - C Cambridge English: Proficiency - CIn addition to these minimum scores you are also expected to achieve a balanced score across all elements of the test. We reserve the right to reject any test score if any one element of the test score is too low. We can only accept tests taken within two years of your registration date (with the exception of Cambridge English tests which have no expiry date). Students requiring a Tier 4 (General) visa must ensure they can meet the English language requirements set out by UK Visas and Immigration (UKVI) and we recommend booking a IELTS for UKVI test. Duration:Full-time MSc - one yearCourse Format:TaughtMScOverview: With increasing traffic density of civil aircraft, and the need for increased military precision in conflicts around the world, safer aircraft operations require more sophisticated avionic systems. This specialist option of the MSc Aerospace Vehicle Design provides you with an understanding of avionic systems design, analysis, development, test and airframe integration.Who is it for?:This course is suitable for students with a background in aeronautical or mechanical engineering or those with relevant industrial experience. It provides a taught engineering programme with a focus on the technical, business and management aspects of aircraft design in the civil and military aerospace sectors.Why this course?The Avionic Systems Design option aims to provide an understanding of avionic systems design, analysis, development, test and airframe integration. This includes a detailed look at robust and fault-tolerant flight control, advanced 4D flight management and RNP navigation, self-separation and collision avoidance and advanced digital data communications systems, as well as pilot-friendly and intelligent cockpit displays and situation awareness.We have been at the forefront of postgraduate education in aerospace engineering since 1946. Aerospace Vehicle Design at Cranfield University was one of the original foundation courses of the College of Aeronautics. Graduates of this course are eligible to join the Cranfield College of Aeronautics Alumni Association (CCAAA), an active community which hold a number of networking and social events throughout the year.Cranfield University is well located for students from all over the world, and offers a range of library and support facilities to support your studies. This enables students from all over the world to complete this qualification whilst balancing work/life commitments. Informed by Industry:The course has an Industrial Advisory Committee with senior members from major UK aerospace companies, government bodies, and the military services. The committee meets twice a year to review and advise on course content, acquisition skills and other attributes are desirable from graduates of the course. Panel members include: BAE Systems Airbus Royal Air Force Department for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform Royal Australian Air Force Messier-Dowty Department of National Defence and the Canadian Armed Forces.We also arrange visits to sites such as BAE Systems, Thales, GKN and RAF bases which specialise in the maintenance of military aircraft. This allows you to get up close to the aircraft and components to help with ideas for the group project.Your teaching teamYou will be taught by Cranfield’s leading expects with many years of industrial experience: Dr Irfan Madani Dr Huamin JiaThe teaching on some taught modules is supported by lectures from visiting speakers from both industry and the military. Former speakers have included senior representatives from: Boeing Airbus BAE Systems Eurocopter.Accreditation:The MSc in Aerospace Vehicle Design is accredited by the Royal Aeronautical Society (RAeS) & Institution of Mechanical Engineers (IMechE) as meeting the requirements for Further Learning for registration as a Chartered Engineer. Candidates must hold a CEng accredited BEng/BSc (Hons) undergraduate first degree to comply with full CEng registration requirements.Institution of Mechanical Engineers (IMechE) Royal Aeronautical Society (RAeS) Institution of Mechanical Engineers (IMechE)Course details:This option is comprised of 14 compulsory modules and a minimum of 60 hours of optional modules, selected from a list of 10 options. You are also required to complete a group design project and an individual research project. Delivered via a combination of structured lectures, industry guest lectures, computer based workshops and private study.A unique feature of the course is that we have four external examiners; two from industry who assess the group design project and two from academia who assess the individual research project.Group project:The extensive group design project is a distinctive and unique feature of this course. This teamwork project takes place over six months, usually between October and March; and recreates a virtual industrial environment bringing together students with various experience levels and different nationalities into one integrated design team.You will be given responsibility for the detailed design of a significant part of the aircraft, for example, forward fuselage, fuel system, or navigation system. The project will progress from the conceptual phase through to the preliminary and detail design phases. You are required to run project meetings, produce engineering drawings and detailed analyses of their design. Problem solving and project coordination must be undertaken on a team and individual basis. At the end of the project, groups are required to report and present findings to a panel of 200 senior engineers from industry. This element of the course is both real and engaging, and places the student group in a professional role as aerospace design engineers. Students testify that working as an integrated team on real problems is invaluable and prepares them well for careers in a highly competitive industry.Watch past presentation YouTube videos to give you a taster of our innovative and exciting group projects: Blended Wing Body Aircraft A9 Dragonfly Box Wing Aircraft MRT7 Tanker Aircraft A-13 Voyager SL-12 Vimana.Individual project:The individual research project aims to provide the training necessary for you to apply knowledge from the taught element to research, and takes place over six months. The project may be theoretical and/or experimental and drawn from a range of topics related to the course and suggested by teaching staff, your employer or focused on your own area of interest.Recent Individual Research Projects include:• Analysis and Design of Stability and Flight Control System of Unconventional Aircraft/ Rotorcraft• Advanced Control System Design of VTOL Aircraft in Hybrid Flight Mode During Take-off and Landing• Analysis of Airframe Noise of Hybrid-Wing-Body-Type Aircraft in the Terminal Area• Simulation of Optimised TMA Manoeuvring, Stand Instrument Departure (SID) and Standard Arrival (STAR) under CNS/ATM Constraints• Design of Autopilot Flight Control Systems of Unconventional Aircraft/ Rotorcraft.Assessment:Taught modules 10%, Group project 50%, Individual research project 40%Funding Opportunities:Laptop/Bursary OfferApply early and you may be eligible for our Laptop/Bursary Offer. Students that accept an offer of a place on to the Aerospace Vehicle Design MSc course may be given the choice of either a £600 (six hundred GBP) reduction from their tuition fees OR a high specification laptop. The laptop will be provided to students after registration onto the course at Cranfield. The laptop will be for your own personal use, both during your studies and after you have completed the MSc course.Well-qualified UK applicants may be eligible to apply for the EADS Technology Masters Training Award.Cranfield Postgraduate Loan Scheme (CPLS)The Cranfield Postgraduate Loan Scheme (CPLS) is a funding programme providing affordable tuition fee and maintenance loans for full-time UK/EU students studying technology-based MSc courses.Your career:The Avionic Systems Design option is valued and respected by employers worldwide. The applied nature of this course ensures that our graduates are ready to be of immediate use to their future employer and has provided sufficient breadth of understanding of multi-discipline design to position them for accelerated career progression.This course prepares graduates for careers as project design engineers, systems design, structural design or avionic engineers in aerospace or related industries, with the aim of progressing to technical management/chief engineer. Graduates from the MSc in Avionic Systems Design can therefore look forward to a varied choice of challenging career opportunities in the above disciplines. Many of our graduates occupy very senior positions in their organisations, making valuable contributions to the international aerospace industry. Typical student destinations include BAE Systems, Airbus, Dassault and Rolls-Royce plc.
